Imagine yourself calmly sitting on the beach on an overcast day. As you look to the horizon you see the placid waves swell into a massive surge, which instantly approaches and painlessly consumes you. Floating through the wave, you feel a calmness descend, as you crash back to the sandy shores. That’s sort of what listening to This Will Destroy You’s latest, fantastic album Another Language is like. This Will Destroy You specializes in crafting quiet, still-as-a-stone ambience, and then immediately pummeling the listener with the sheer magnitude of their sound.
This Will Destroy You has been prominent in the post-rock scene since releasing their debut EP Young Mountain in 2005. Jeremy Galindo (guitar), Chris King (guitar), Donovan Jones (keyboard, bass), and Alex Bhore (drums) have comprised the band since 2009, and King, a founding member, was kind enough to answer some questions via email. In support of Another Language, This Will Destroy You embarked on a European/North American tour this past August, and they won’t stop moving until early November. The band will be at Brighton Music Hall on Thursday, October 30th with Silent Land Time Machine and Future Death, and so will Allston Pudding.
AP: First off, congratulations on Another Language, I’m a huge fan of the album. Given the band’s home state and ambient sound, TWDY is often likened and compared to Explosions in the sky even though the two bands are very different in crucial ways. How do you all feel about the comparisons to Explosions in the Sky?
CK: Thank you very much. I understand the comparisons to Explosions in the Sky, as there can be parallels to certain ears, but at this point in our career ( 10 + years ) it feels like lazy journalism. Apples and oranges I reckon.
AP: If the band could pick one other decade to write music and perform in, which decade would you all choose?
CK: Late 60’s – early 70’s in Germany. The emergence of krautrock is one of the most exciting, historical times in modern music. The sense of exploration and creating something new was beautiful and infectious. It also created the grounds for electronic/experimental music and spanned some of my personal favorites: Tangerine Dream, Can, Cluster, Popul Vuh, Faust, Ash Ra Tempel, Wolfgang Dauner, Neu!, etc..
AP: What’s been This Will Destroy You’s favorite show to play?
CK: We played a show in Athens, Greece that is one of the most memorable, as the intensity and passion of the crowd totally fueled the show. It was an interesting time to be there with the current political climate, and the means of providing musical release/escape was something special to be a part of.
AP: How is TWDY received during international tours? Do you all feel like there’s an active following overseas?
CK: The band loves touring overseas. Europe has been consistently great for us. We were beyond overwhelmed by the response of our last Asia/Australia tour in particular. Audiences are hungry for music, and are so respectful. Plus eating amazing food everyday didn’t hurt!
AP: Tunnel Blanket used over twenty different instruments to create the album’s dark, noisy ambience. How have you all managed to compress the colossal sound into a 4 piece live show?
Playing multiple instruments on stage and learning different ways to create walls of sound. There is some sampling live that happens as well.
AP: Have there been any developments with the evangelical church that used TWDY’s music for propagandistic purposes?
CK: Yes, after 4 years of traumatic and grueling battling we have reached a conclusion. There are few things worse than having something you have put your heart and life into used for smut-esque brainwashing, and propagating ideas you are strongly morally against. And, knowing that it worked on the thousands upon thousands of people that watched those videos. I’ve had constant nightmares from knowing we were unintentionally a part of that. We are all beyond relieved to have that chapter of life out of the way, and want to thank our family and friends for sticking by us. It really was a dark time to say the least but I’m glad we stuck to our demons and refused to be intimidated.
AP: The descriptor “cinematic” has been used a lot when discussing Another Language, which makes sense given TWDY’s film scoring. Has this cinematic influence been deliberate, or has it been a byproduct of writing music for film?
CK: When the band was formed 11 years ago the ultimate goal was to be involved with scoring film, so I think that description is spot on. Film in general is a huge influence for me both visually and aurally. It is such a powerful and important art medium that will always have holding power. Just watched Werner Herzog’s “Fata Morgana” in the van today, and it literally gave me chills even though I’ve seen it so many times. That’s what I love about film – the capacity to transcend and transform.
AP: Are there any upcoming film projects that TWDY either plans to or would like to work on?
CK: We have some music in the upcoming film, “Foxcatcher” which we are very excited to be apart of. There are several projects we are hoping to be involved with in 2015.
AP: Can you walk us through TWDY’s songwriting process if a process exists?
CK: There isn’t a set process per say; it really varies by song/album but the final part of the process constitutes all of us getting in a room and hashing things out together until the feeling is right. It could start from a loop or something someone brings in or we could just start from scratch and go from there. The writing process can be lengthy and frustrating but when it does works it can be such a gratifying experience.
AP: What’s been happening with We Tried Film as of late?
CK: I believe Jeremy has several short films he is in the process of finishing up.
AP: What’s next for TWDY?
Continue touring into 2015 with a west coast tour and asia/Australia following that along with some dips into Mexico and South America. After that we plan on going right back in and writing the follow up to “Another Language” in late summer/ fall.
AP: Is there a band drink of choice?
Club Matte and Topo Chico!